Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-25
WARON THE CHURCH.
The Rccsnt Legislation Against the Ncr
mons.
Chic8g go Herald.

Chicago Herald
The bill which has now passed both
Houses of Congress, and awaits the action
of the President, is not so much meas
ure against polygamy as it is legislative
/ attempt to cripple and despoil the Nor
mon church. That there IS vast differ
ence between Furnishing crime upheld in
the name of religion and taking steps to
deprive the adherents of that faith Of the
property which their thrift and industry
have built up viii be patent TO the most
casual observer.
| Laws already on the statute books pro-
vide ample pains and penalties for polyg-
amists. To enforce these laws it has
been necessary to deprive one territory
OF the right of self government, to deny
TO its iDha bitants the protection and guar
antees Of the constitution Of the United
States, and to set up among them sys-
TEN of jurisprudence which would do
credit to Siberia or TimbuCtoo. But as to
these extreme measures no one would be
justified in making serious complaint, as,
under the circumstances, the punishment
Of crime and the enforcement of the laws
would be impossible wi nout them. As
mucn cannot be said relative TO the sup
Elementary legislation which has now
been hed. It goes beyond the question of
pUlygamy and attacks the Mormon church
as church. closes up its financial corpo-
ration, and confscates its property. The
precedent established by the original
Mormon legislation WAS cited by the
members Of that church as dangerous,
because it was claimed that if majority
Of the people should ever come to the
conclusion that Gny other faith was praC-
ticing some ceremony which was held to
be Injurious to public morals it, too,
could be attacked in the same manner.
This did not cause mucn trepidation any
where, for it is not at all likely that any
religious sect Will ever adopt a practice
which the laws have from time immemor-
lal held to be perpicious. As 20 this
latter legislation, however, the precedent
established is of g differe Mt character.
Polygamy has been the convenient
weapon of the enemies which the Mormon
church has made. If 1t had not been part
of their faith something else would have
been found on which to base the attacks
which interested parties are making upon
them. The fact is unquestioned that
very few MormOns are pOlygamists. Aside
from that tenet there is nothing in their
creed to which any American can lawfully
take exception. 1t mas been the aim OF
the gentlles and OF the fanatics ~ the
east to have never understood the situa-
ton in Utah and VINO have never made
any effort to understand it, 10 destroy
this church ard come into possession OF
it's past temperatures. 1t was driven
from Nauvoo. II was burned, piilGged
anG murdered out of Missouri. If it can
be legislated out Ct Utah some precious
scoundrels Will make their fortunes by
the operation, and that is the present OBJ !
ject. By dwelling upon polygamV the |
dgitators have misled millions of people |
and covered their own racks, when 1t is
notorious that they care nothing at all for |
polygamy; that even in Salt Lake itself
it is rarely heard of, and that but for the /
vulnerabilily OF the church on this score |
it would be attacked on other lines III the
same interest. The spoil of the church is |
the bait which has attracted the at
tention If TIE avaricious, and while that |
is permitted to tempt them they will !
clamUr for laws more and mere severe |
until they at length come into possession.
No necessity exists for the legislation |
which has Just been made. 1t is not fer |
the suppression of pOlygamy, but for the
destruction of the Mormon church. The |
laws against polygamy are being enforced |
with much success. Nine men cut of ten |
VINO are arraigned are convicted. The
crime is punished in Utah with much |
more zeal than it is in any other territory |
or state in the Union. Be?ond this the
people of the United States have no legal |
or moral right to go. They may punish
the crimes committed by members Of & !
religious society, but they cannot lawfully |
punish the society itself, % per cent OF
whose members are not guilty of any
offense To set Up this right in the pres
ent case will make it easy 10 do so in
other cases A majority may some day
conclude that some other church is get |
ting rich enough 10 rob and it will be roo
bed. The very instrument of oppression
and injustice which some religious bodies !
are now applying to the MOrmons may enc !
day be turned against themselves. 1t is !
a dangerous business 20 permit majority |
to override the constitution in obedience |
to passing clamor.